Anthony Daly: How Waterford took a sledgehammer to Kilkenny's aura and mystique

Liam Cahill has done some job but one of his greatest achievements has been getting Waterford to play with the flair and natural abandon that almost became encrypted into the county’s DNA after the great Waterford team of the 2000s

Jack Prendergast, left, and Shane McNulty of Waterford celebrate the win. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

At half-time on Saturday, one of my WhatsApp groups was lighting up with messages about Kilkenny’s awesome power and all-consuming aura, and predictions of another imminent doom and gloom All-Ireland semi-final defeat for Waterford. 

I won’t name and shame some of the experts in the group but, in their minds, the match was already over.